ClinicalTrials.gg
RecruitingNCT05377463Updated Sep 3, 2024

Optimizing a Bio-behavioral Intervention for Sustained Viral Suppression

An interventional study of Peer support to promote uptake and persistence of medication assisted treatment (MAT) and Behavioral Activation Treatment (BAT) to reduce depression in HIV Viremia, sponsored by University of Texas, El Paso. Recruiting at 1 site in Mexico. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2024-09-03.

Sponsored by University of Texas, El Paso · Not applicable, Interventional, and Supportive care

From the registry’s dates

  • Primary completion was expected by Jul 2026, 3 months ago, but the record still lists the study as recruiting.
  • Started May 2023; still recruiting 3 years 6 months later.
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
220
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The study will test two behavioral intervention components to identify the combination of the two components that best supports people who inject drugs to achieve and sustain HIV viral load suppression.

The study design is a 2-to-the-2 factorial experiment. The 2 represents the level of each component: 0 (receive) or 1 (don't receive). The 2 represents the number of components being tested. The four components are: 1) receiving (or not receiving) peer support services for medication-assisted treatment (MAT) uptake and persistence and 2) behavioral activation therapy for depression (BAT). Therefore, in order to test which combination of components produce the best outcome, this factorial design randomizes people to 1 of 4 conditions. Each condition represents a possible combination of the 2 components above. All participants will receive patient navigation for care engagement.

Read the detailed description

Participants will be randomly assigned to one of 4 experimental conditions. Each condition will represents every possible combination of 2 components (e.g., 1 only, 2 only, 1-2, none). Participants complete a survey assessment at baseline, complete their assigned intervention components, and then return to complete follow-up assessment surveys at 3-, 6-,9-, and 12-months. The primary outcome is sustained viral suppression defined as viral load test results of \<400 copies per mL on all 6-,9-, and 12-month follow-up visits. Results of Aim 1 will yield estimates of the unique impact of each intervention component, as well as each combination of components, on sustained viral suppression. The research team and partners will make decisions about what constitutes the optimized intervention by judging the observed effect sizes and statistical significance against real-world constraints that go into the delivery of the interventions. The secondary aims are to test mediators to explain component 1-2 and its relationship to viral suppression. We will also test moderators of these relationship between each component and outcome of viral suppression.

02

Conditions studied

  • HIV Viremia

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Keywords

  • HIV viral suppression
03

In context

Viremia

57 studies on the registry are indexed under Viremia; 12 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 220 is above the median of 87 across 45 interventional studies indexed under Viremia.

Browse Viremia studies →

Lead sponsor

University of Texas, El Paso is the lead sponsor of 21 studies on the registry; 11 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • be at least 18 years of age
  • be able to provide
  • be eligible to receive free care services in Mexico
  • be HIV positive
  • have injected drugs in the last 30 days
  • not be on methadone replacement therapy
  • be willing to discuss MAT uptake with a peer
  • sign a medical release form to have medical data abstracted
  • agree to submit and describe locator information
  • agree to return to follow-up visits
  • able to communicate in Spanish
  • screen positive for depression on the PHQ-2
  • have no plans of moving outside the study area in the next 12-months
  • meet one of the following:

    1. not currently in possession of ART or not taking ART but prescribed ART or
    2. sub-optimal ART adherence as at least one 4-day treatment interruption in the past 90 days or
    3. sub-optimal retention in HIV care - never engaged or disengaged from HIV care as 2 or more missed clinic appointments in the last 9 months or
    4. no viral load test done in the past six months or
    5. self-reports a detectable viral load within the past 6 months

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • has not injected drugs in the last 30 days or do not have a verifiable opioid use disorder
  • is not positive
  • is receiving methadone
  • is unwilling to discuss methadone uptake with a peer
  • does not screen positive for depression
  • is not able to provide
  • does not speak Spanish
  • has plans to move out of the city
  • does not qualify to receive free HIV care services in Mexico
  • has an appearance of psychological disturbance or severe cognitive impairment that could limit understanding of study procedures as determined by study staff
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(2)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

HIV

The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.

Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.

05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Supportive care
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Factorial assignment
Masking
Single (Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
220 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Condition 1: Component 1

    1) Peer-Support for Medication-Assisted Treatment

    Behavioral: Peer support to promote uptake and persistence of medication assisted treatment (MAT)

  • Experimental
    Condition 2: Component 2

    2) Behavioral Activation Therapy

    Behavioral: Behavioral Activation Treatment (BAT) to reduce depression

  • Experimental
    Condition 3: Components 1 and 2

    Participants assigned to a combination of: 1. Peer-Support for Medication-Assisted Treatment 2. Behavioral Activation Therap

    Behavioral: Peer support to promote uptake and persistence of medication assisted treatment (MAT) · Behavioral: Behavioral Activation Treatment (BAT) to reduce depression

  • Experimental
    Condition 4: No Components

    Participants not assigned to any of the 2 components. They are placed on a wait list and will receive components after the primary data collection period.

    Behavioral: No Intervention Components

Interventions

  • BehavioralPeer support to promote uptake and persistence of medication assisted treatment (MAT)

    Participants will be assigned to receive peer support to promote uptake of MAT and persistence. This component will consist of two informational sessions, a tailored recovery plan, and on-going support from a peer for the first 6 months.

  • BehavioralBehavioral Activation Treatment (BAT) to reduce depression

    Participants will be assigned to receive BAT treatment for depression. This component will consist of 8 sessions where participants will identify short and long-term goals, values, and the activities unrelated to substance use that were previously enjoyed or are likely to increase a feeling of well-being. This intervention component focuses on making a plan to troubleshoot barriers to re-engage in these activities. Sessions are delivered weekly. The content includes psycho-education about what depression is, the intervention rationale, and the activities and monitoring of activities, building social contracts to engage networks, and discussion of potential barriers to following through with activities.

  • BehavioralNo Intervention Components

    Participants not assigned to components 1 and 2

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Achievement of Viral Suppression

    Viral suppression is defined as a laboratory test result showing HIV viral load as less than 400 copies per mL. To meet our definition of achieved viral suppression, viral load must be below 400 copiers per mL at 6-month follow-up.

    Time frame: Viral load below or above 400 copiers per mL at the 6-month follow-up assessment

  2. Viral Suppression at 9-month follow-up

    Viral suppression is defined as a laboratory test result showing HIV viral load as less than 400 copies per mL. To meet our definition of viral suppression, viral load must be below 400 copiers per mL at 6-month follow-up.

    Time frame: Viral load below or above 400 copiers per mL at the 9-month follow-up assessment

  3. Viral Suppression at 12-month follow-up

    Viral suppression is defined as a laboratory test result showing HIV viral load as less than 400 copies per mL. To meet our definition of viral suppression, viral load must be below 400 copiers per mL.

    Time frame: Viral load below or above 400 copiers per mL at the 12-month follow-up assessment

Secondary outcomes

  1. Drug use

    Will be measured through urine analysis and participants will self-report the frequency (yes vs no), quantity (how much typically consumed when using), and duration of use (how may days in the last 30 days did the participant use and how many times did the participant use yesterday) of various drugs in last 30 days.

    Time frame: 3-,6-,9-, and 12-month follow-up assessments

  2. Methadone uptake and persistence

    Information about date of first dose, current dosage, and number of days on Methadone will be extracted from the medical record.

    Time frame: 3-,6-,9-, and 12-month follow-up assessments

  3. Drug use frequency and severity of withdrawal and cravings

    Opioid Withdrawal Scale - This is a clinician administered scale that assesses the extent opiate withdrawal symptoms based on 11 symptoms (resting pulse rate, sweating, restlessness, pupil size, bone or joint aches, runny nose, GI upset, tremors, yawning, anxiety or irritability, gooseflesh skin.

    Time frame: 3-,6-,9-, and 12-month follow-up assessments

  4. Depressive Symptoms (Clinician-assisted rating)

    The Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale will be used, which is a 10-item scale and is clinician-assisted. interview participants and clinicians will rate their level of depression. Symptoms assessed include: apparent sadness, reported sadness, inner tension, reduced sleep, reduced appetite, concentration difficulties, lassitude, inability to feel, pessimistic thoughts, suicidal thoughts

    Time frame: 3-,6-,9-, and 12-month follow-up assessments

  5. Depressive Symptoms (Self-report)

    The validated nine-item patient health questionnaire will be administered to participants to measure their level of depression. Participants will be asked to rate how many days of the last 2 weeks they have been bothered by having little interest or pleasure doing things, feeling down, feeling tired, having poor appetite, feeling bad about themselves, having trouble concentrating, moving or speaking slowly, and having thought of hurting themselves.

    Time frame: 3-,6-,9-, and 12-month follow-up assessments

  6. Behavioral activation for depression

    The validated 25 item questionnaire will be administered to participants to assess changes in the behaviors in the past week that underlie their depression such as staying in bed too long, inability to do things that needed to be done, and being active and accomplishing goals.

    Time frame: 3-,6-,9-, and 12-month follow-up assessments

  7. Adherence to antiretroviral medication (ART)

    Percent adherent to ART measure will be extracted from medical records

    Time frame: 3-,6-,9-, and 12-month follow-up assessments

  8. Non-adherence to antiretroviral medication (ART)

    Non-adherence will be measured as 4-day treatment interruptions (yes vs no) extracted from medical records.

    Time frame: 3-,6-,9-, and 12-month follow-up assessments

  9. Information, motivation, and behavioral skills to adhere to ART

    Participants will answer the validated 30-item scale to assess psychological precursors of adherence including information (e.g., knowledge of how current HIV medications should be taken); Motivation (e.g., support from close significant others to take HIV medication); Behavioral skills (e.g, how easy it is to get HIV medications refills on time)

    Time frame: 3-,6-,9-, and 12-month follow-up assessments

  10. Self-efficacy to adhere to ART

    Participants will answer the validate 12-items scale assessing perceived self-efficacy to adhere to antiretroviral medication in the last 30 days. The scale asks about the level of confidence the participant has in keeping up with the treatment plan in spite of difficulties such as sided-effects and amid change in sleep and dietary habits and ability to integrate taking medications into the daily routine

    Time frame: 3-,6-,9-, and 12-month follow-up assessments

  11. Retention in HIV care

    Retention will be assessed by extracting from the medical record: appointments missed and appointments kept. A ratio will be computed using these two measures. At least one appointment kept in each three-month period will be an index of appointment constancy.

    Time frame: 3-,6-,9-, and 12-month follow-up assessments

  12. Logistical barriers to HIV care

    Participants will be asked to indicate whether they have experienced common barriers to HIV care (yes/no) including availability of transportation, being able to access care, clinic hours of operation.

    Time frame: 3-,6-,9-, and 12-month follow-up assessments

  13. Perceived engagement in HIV care

    Participants will answer the 10-item validated scale assessing perceived engagement in HIV care including level of trust in provider, feeling respected and understood by provider, degree of comfort in asking questions and interacting with provider, participant's perceived role in his medical care,.

    Time frame: 3-,6-,9-, and 12-month follow-up assessments

07

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
  • Programa Compañeros
    Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua 32330, Mexico
    Recruiting
08

References and documents

Study documents

PDFs hosted by the registry, ClinicalTrials.gov.

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Yes — We will share a final modified quantitative dataset with the corresponding code book to validate all findings. The dataset will be modified to remove any potential identifiable information (such as date of birth). Interested parties will be asked to sign an agreement with MPIs Lechuga and Sauceda that specifies that the use of the data is for research purposes only. Furthermore, in order to have the data shared, each party must have: a) adequate systems in place to secure, encrypt and protect the data file to prevent the disclosure of identities, and b) a plan for destruction or returning the data files after all analyses have been completed. Prior to the sharing of data, approval from the requester's Institutional Review Board is required.

Time frame: The data will be made available as soon as possible but no later than within one year of the completion of the funded project period or upon acceptance of the data for publication, whichever is earlier.

Access criteria: Directions for requesting the dataset will be available at the official study website, which is to be developed. This information will be found in all publications and conference abstract presentations. An individual participant data statement noting steps to access the data is to be developed.

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Sep 3, 2024, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT05377463
Lead sponsor
University of Texas, El Paso
Collaborators
University of California, San Francisco, Centro de Integracion Juvenil, El Centro Ambulatorio para la Prevención y Atención en SIDA e Infecciones de Transmisión Sexual
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
May 17, 2022
Start date
May 10, 2023
Primary completion
Jul 31, 2026 (estimated)
Completion
Jul 31, 2026 (estimated)
Last update
Sep 3, 2024

Study contacts

Julia Lechuga, PhD
Contact
julialec@utep.edu
915-747-7221
John A Sauceda, PhD
Contact
john.sauceda@ucsf.edu
415-502-1000 ext. 17172
Julia Lechuga
principal investigator · The University of Texas at El Paso
John A Sauceda
principal investigator · The University of California San Francisco

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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